Indie developer Novemtails and publisher Assemble Entertainment believe gamers, especially ‘cozy fans’, will eagerly look forward to the Early Access release of non-violent survival game Under Canopies starting on Steam today, priced at 14.99€. You can watch the release trailer here
Under Canopies gained significant visibility during the recent Steam Next Fest, featuring on Steam’s main page and reaching over 50,000 on Steam users’ wishlists, including 11,000 during the event. Player feedback praised the peaceful gameplay, forest atmosphere, wildlife, photography, and combat-free survival. Suggestions focused on improving tutorials, controls, settings, inventory, storage, and overall polish to deliver a smoother Early Access experience. All of this has been noted by both the developer and publisher, and many facets were duly implemented!
Under Canopies is a peaceful, non-violent survival game about building a home in the forest and learning to live in harmony with nature. Players arrive as explorers and gradually transform a woodland refuge into a thriving personal sanctuary. The core focus is simple: explore, gather, craft, nurture, and grow. Venture into the forest to discover resources, wildlife, and hidden places; use what you find to craft tools, build and improve your cabin, grow crops, and prepare meals. Care for animals, photograph wildlife, and learn about the ecosystem to unlock new discoveries and opportunities.
Each expedition brings resources and knowledge that help players develop their home, while an increasingly comfortable sanctuary enables deeper exploration. Progress comes through self-sufficiency, curiosity, and care… not combat or conquest.
Key Features:
Look Around – Snap Happy: From rivers and wildflower meadows to mountains and hidden woodland, the forest offers quiet discoveries, shy wildlife, and a living ecosystem to understand. Progress comes through self-sufficiency, knowledge, and care rather than strength. At its heart, Under Canopies is about creating a place worth returning to: a cozy cabin, familiar wildlife, a growing garden, cherished discoveries, and a sanctuary that becomes more personal with every visit.
Many Skills included: The photography system also serves as a form of progression, allowing players to photograph animals and record their discoveries in an album that functions like a collectable wildlife journal. As players encounter new species, capture unique moments, and build trust with animals, they gradually expand their wildlife collection and complete more of their documentation.
Be a Naturalist: Domestic animals offer additional rewards. By feeding and caring for animals such as chickens and sheep, players can collect useful resources, including eggs and wool. Use these materials in other gameplay activities, such as cooking, crafting, decorating, and improving your home.
So, so, so MUCH MORE!
- Crafting: Gather resources, craft tools, and unlock items
- Farming: Grow crops and vegetables
- Cooking: Prepare over 30 recipes
- Animal care: Raise livestock and discover wildlife
- Animal bonding: Earn animals’ trust through care
- Photography: Capture wildlife and nature
- Survival: Manage hunger, thirst, energy, and temperature
- Progression: Discover resources and upgrade tools
- Atmosphere: Relaxing, nature-focused exploration and creativity
- Game mode: Single-player
- Intuitive controls and menu system
Quote from Assemble Entertainment // Under Canopies is a cozy, restful, non-violent survival and exploration game where players build a cabin, live self-sufficiently, care for animals, and document wildlife in a peaceful forest sanctuary. It can be enjoyed and played by everyone and is relaxing, with a calm and compelling way! The core motivation is to create a more complete, comfortable, and meaningful life in the forest through exploration, animal care, and gradual progression. This is just the first impressive gameplay milestone, with the potential to evolve into a superb, fully polished game ahead of its anticipated release in 2027.
About Novemtails
Novemtails is the independent game development label of Roberto Ortiz, a game programmer based in Mexico and the solo developer behind Under Canopies. Roberto has worked with teams including Estación Pi, Amber Studio, 1SimpleGame, Macula Interactive, and Jettelly, and served as a technical reviewer for Visualizing Equations Vol. 2. Working alongside nine cats, he creates thoughtful, technically polished games with a strong focus on craft, atmosphere and interactive detail. Roberto is also the creator of “Game Publishers”, a reference site cataloging game publishers from around the world for developers and industry professionals. For more information, visit novemtails.com.
About Assemble Entertainment
Assemble Entertainment is an independent publisher based in Germany, best known for indie hits such as Sticky Business, Roadwarden, Decktamer, Paddle Paddle Paddle, Grind Survivors and the Endzone franchise. Since 2016, Assemble has released more than 50 games across different genres, including cozy, horror, strategy, and roguelike, and has established itself as a trusted partner for bringing original indie projects to market.